Eighth Grade History Exam Review

Isolationism

A policy of nonparticipation in international economic and political relations

Expansionism

A policy that calls for expanding a nation's boundaries.

Annex

to add or attach

Imperialism

A policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.

Racism

Belief that one race is superior to another

Nationalism

A strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one's country

Militarism

A policy of glorifying military power and keeping a standing army always prepared for war

Socialist

person who supports community ownership of property and the sharing of all profits

Fascism

A political system headed by a dictator that calls for extreme nationalism and racism and no tolerance of opposition

Appeasement

Satisfying the demands of dissatisfied powers in an effort to maintain peace and stability.

Nazi

a German member of Adolf Hitler's political party

Reparations

As part of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was ordered to pay fines to the Allies to repay the costs of the war. Opposed by the U.S., it quickly lead to a severe depression in Germany.

Holocaust

the Nazi program of exterminating Jews under Hitler

Manhattan Project

A secret U.S. project for the construction of the atomic bomb.

Concentration Camp

prison camps used under the rule of Hitler in Nazi Germany. Conditions were inhuman, and prisoners, mostly Jewish people, were generally starved or worked to death, or killed immediately.

Allied Powers

Alliance of Great Britain, Soviet Union, United States, and France during World War II.

Axis Powers

Alliance of Germany, Italy, and Japan during World War II.

Korean War

The conflict between Communist North Korea and Non-Communist South Korea. The United Nations (led by the United States) helped South Korea.

Red Scare

fear that communists were working to destroy the American way of life

McCarthyism

The term associated with Senator Joseph McCarthy who led the search for communists in America during the early 1950s through his leadership in the House Un-American Activities Committee.

Brinkmanship

A policy of threatening to go to war in response to any enemy aggression.

Mutual Assured Destruction

idea that both sides would face certain destruction in a nuclear war

Arms Race

Cold war competition between the U.S. and Soviet Union to build up their respective armed forces and weapons

Iron Curtain

A political barrier that isolated the peoples of Eastern Europe after WWII, restricting their ability to travel outside the region

Karl Marx

1818-1883. 19th century philosopher, political economist, sociologist, humanist, political theorist, and revolutionary. Often recognized as the father of communism. Analysis of history led to his belief that communism would replace capitalism as it replaced feudalism. Believed in a classless society.

Twenty-Second Amendment

Passed in 1951, the amendment that limits presidents to two terms of office.

First, Second, and Third World Countries

A method of classification based on the world before the collapse of the USSR. First world meant western, developed economies. Second world meant communist countries. Third world meant low-income, less developed economies

Containment

American policy of resisting further expansion of communism around the world

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization; an alliance made to defend one another if they were attacked by any other country; US, England, France, Canada, Western European countries

Proxy War

a war in which the powers in conflict use third parties as substitutes instead of fighting each other directly

Bay of Pigs

In April 1961, a group of Cuban exiles organized and supported by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency landed on the southern coast of Cuba in an effort to overthrow Fidel Castro. When the invasion ended in disaster, President Kennedy took full responsibility for the failure.

Cuban Missile Crisis

The 1962 confrontation bewteen US and the Soviet Union over Soviet missiles in Cuba.